Throughout the world, religious fundamentalism has established itself as a major political force. To adherents, fundamentalism offers a moral refuge from the vulgarities of the secular, modern world.

What comes to mind when an Islamic fundamentalist turns up in the news? Egyptian soldiers assassinating Anwar Sadat? A Palestinian suicide bomber blowing up an Israeli market? In an age when Islamic fundamentalism has become a cliche associated with gruesome acts of terrorism, one image that usually does not spring up is that of a Muslim activist like Mohammed Abdul Koddus.

Abdul Koddus, 50, an Egyptian writer, is a prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic political group founded in 1928 that has been banned by the government. He prays five times a day, campaigns for an Islamic republic and...